Love my RAT2 in AUS8. Sharpening is not an issue. It's what I do every night when watching the idiot box. Why pay more for a slightly better steel? Busy hands are happy hands. Love your reviews Nick.
Not increasing the price is a cool and interesting move. Seems like a bit of a challenge to all the knife makers who are marketing d2 as a super premium high dollar steel, and I'm really liking that. This is a knife that enough people know, that it could significantly impact what steels come at what price.
souldude13 I hope you realize that there's almost no knife on the market using cpm-d2. Out of, the over, 10 thousand knives on bladehq there's only 9 using cpm-d2..
Discovered something more to love about this knife last night. The spine is excellent at removing old compound from a strop by scraping. Cleaned a strop, re-spread it with compound, stropped again and cleaned dirty compound off again, all inside 5 mins. Happy.
Just watched the proper review. And now I'm here. I like it when I'm having trouble keeping up with new uploads. I'm picking up two of these soon once I find the budget.
Ironically the first Ontario knife I ever purchased was the Rat 1 in G10/Carbon Fiber D2. I love that damn thing. Seriously. Fun fact. Let my brother borrow it and he lost it... I was angry beyond measure and ordered another one (black coated). Edge Pro'ed it to a mirror polish and held on to it... Weeks later I am at his apartment and find my original knife. So I technically bought two.
Ok man after a ton of reviews you won me over on this knife. Looking for an edc that wont freak out my coworkers. I also didnt want junk. You have great reviews well done.
Thank you Mr Shabazz! I’m new to the knife game and I was sold on the Syderco Tenacious as my first EDC . That was until I subbed to your channel. With this great review you have sold me on this Ontario Rat 2 (D2). Keep em coming Sir! ~Tim~🙂
I just bought one thanks to your info. I was sitting here all day long going through the internet trying to find the best price on this knife and then I saw your video about D2 Steel. I found it at Warriors and wonders here in Canada bought it right away and it's on the way thanks for the info
I've been waiting (and waiting etc.) for my beloved RAT 2 to come out in D2, and I'm not disappointed. Both RATs, 1 and 2, especially in D2, are among my favorite value folders. The AUS8 versions I own have nice polished edges that only take minimal ceramic honing and stropping to maintain.
I decided on the green Rat II D2 and blought it on Amazon about an hour ago. Then i decided to buy the CF model instead. AND THEN, I watched this review and cancelled the CF and reordered the green model. Thank you for the infor that saved me not only $10.00, but the regret for a poor choice. Nick, you rock!
I have to get my hands on this. I recently got myself a RAT 1 in Aus 8 and am absolutely loving it and plan to get the D2 version. Now I want the RAT 2 in both versions as well
I bought two of the Ontario rat 1 n I love the knife! Excellent Review n I think spot on , concise objective review on your part. Thank you for not playing stupid music or wasting time. I will become new subscriber. Dr Dave
I have many more expensive Spyderco knives but I still think that my old aus 8 rat 2 may be my favorite little knife ever. I've had the d2 in my next shopping cart for a week now. Great video
I just opened the box on my r2d2. I’ve always had spyderco knives but this may be my new favorite except my thumb slips off the stud most of the time but I’ll get used to it. Spyderco is always sooo easy to open . But this is very light and easier to carry. Maybe my new favorite...thanks for the recommendation nick.
I absolutely love when you show other knives in the videos to compare them so you can see other knives someone thinks is very cool without having to search in another video, very good reviewer. Awesome
i know this is a old video, if you have a d2 knife you can use gun blue to coat the blade to be rust proof. you can cold blue pretty much any metal and it gives a beautiful black ice look
You confused the hell out of me. I've wanted a R2-D2 for as long as there was a R1D2, never able to find it as it didn't exist, I started this thinking it was an R1D2 but then saw this was posted 24hr ago and realized my prayers were answered.
Your original guess was correct, that's essentially a sticker of carbon fiber on g-10. Ganzo has the same two sided c.f. and g-10 scales made by sandwiching a layer of g-10 between two thin layers of c.f. I don't want to argue with people who say it's %100 carbon fiber, it's not, it says it right in the product description.
I'm a recent budget knife afficionado. The RAT2 was hyped on several youtube channels as the best thing since sliced bread. At the best, was a let down.i cushion that by saying I probably woulda loved the knife if I didn't have some others I really love. It has good steel and overall construction, but thats where it ends for me. It'll end up in my car as a beater. I like the look, the thinness and construction but it is far from a one hand intuitive knife like my other flippers that I thoroughly enjoy. This one takes some finess and smaller hand apparently. The clip is short and SUPER stiff. I got frustrated taking it out and putting in my pocket it was so tight. I was doing a project and basically just kept in fully in my pocket til my next use. It feels like itll wear out the jean material as well if i used this one a lot. For a budget friendly knife I'll buy other models of the Honeybadger or anything by Ganzo. The Ganzo Firebird FH91AND 41 in D2 with amazing flip action is $25 to $30 currently!!! Both Cheaper and more fun than this.
I have the R2D2 in Green and D2 steel ofc, its my EDC #1, i simply love the size, handling and feel of this cheap knife. And I do have a few other knifes, even much moore expencive ones like Benchmade 940. The Griptillian and The Freek This little knife is awesome, I carry him every day.
Hi Nick, I'm watching old Rat reviews since I'm considering ordering one in D2. Already have the Aus8. (Talking about the Rat1) I just had a thought....don't you think if they added a flipper at the bottom end of the 'choil-ish' area it would be great. To me the Rat has one of the best detents (for my preference.) I just think if they added a flipper it would turn this from one of the best budget knives to THE BEST. I know to some it may already be. That would give you so many opening options. And what I like about flippers, especially with a longer type flipper is that it takes away any fear I have about the liner lock. If you were to exert alot of forward pressure on a flipper knife and it failed, the flipper would close on your finger instead of the edge. This is hypothetical, but I believe a flipper might just prevent your finger from being cut badly.
Here in canada the rat 2 in aus 8 is 49.99 and the rat 2 in d2 is 69.99. We get so screwed in canada on knife prices. Our knife prices in canada are like doubled.
I like the CF too. It's got a nice zigzag pattern off-angle, and I don't find it too slick. I bought the R1D2cf4(4 layers :p) to toss in the toolbox on my tractor for opening seed and fertilizer bags, or stripping wires or whatever. Fertilizer is especially abrasive and works itself into the bag fibers. If I was gutting deer or working at a wharf covered in fish slime all day - I sure as hell wouldn't be using a folder, much less a knife with smooth scales. As for everyone's complaining about D2 being hard to sharpen - I've got a Ka-Bar branded white (very fine grit) stone (not sure if it's an India or Whetstone) and can take an edge from having cut soup cans open to shaving sharp in under 20 passes (dry). If that's too hard, maybe knife sharpening isn't your gig. ;)
my CF R2D2 showed up damaged on one side of the scales. apparently most of these coming from Ontario have this issue. returned mine and awaiting a new one with plastic scales. love this knife tho!
Onatario is a great company for not being greedy and making a great affordable knife for the middleclass outdoorsman. I would think they'll make up for loss with huge sales numbers. A rat 1 with a serrated d2 blade with g10 scales and ball bearings would be perfect.
Hey Nick, is the handle thickness the same between the two handle scale options? The hole around the pivot on the plastic handle looks deeper in some shots.
I just picked up the R2D2 due to the company closing down. I got the last one in the store. It's a very good knife that deserves to be in the collection. Sad about OKC
Took mine apart and did a little sanding on the scales. It made a HUGE difference. I recommend to try it. I just hit it with a 600 grit, took the gloss off. Try it.
Thanks for your reviews. Are there any high and clones of this knife made? (Under $200) I have this knife and its great, just wish it was more premium. The mini bugout is too small.
BladeHQ and Knife Center both charge $10 more ($37.95) for D2 over the AUS8 ($27.95) for same models. This is basically same cost difference on Rat1 versions of D2 and Aux8 at both sites.
I bought the D2 Carbon Fiber Rat 2 and it came out of the box kind of stiff.and the liner lock is tight as well..blade is perfectly centered, and it came with the pocket clip in the tip down position.changing to the tip up now...what can I do to loosen up the action?
While they tend to look quite vanilla, these knives are just freakishly wonderful. I'm collecting all of the colors to satisfy my nerdism and unwavering love for them, but the regular Joe Shmoe black one is the one I beat up. I look at it like you look at the delica. Love other stuff. Get other stuff. Well aware that there is better stuff, but yet something in us needs to make sure that we never forget what truly works, and what deserves to be respected for it. Is that how you spell "Shmoe"? I feel like a C should be in there.
The carbon fiber could still be a laminate. Ganzo also has carbon fiber laminates on both side of the scale. They apparently do this so that they can save costs by only having to cut out one orientation/design for both sides.
In Blade HQ it specifies it’s CF/G-10. I ordered one with the black blade and CF/G10 scales. Hasn’t arrived yet. We’ll see how it turns out. Wanted something different. Good review as always Nick.
I agree with Nick, I bought the carbon fiber for my brother since he likes carbon fiber. He liked it because he's not super into knives. But Nick is correct, it straight up looks like a sticker, honestly, I've seen actual carbon fiber stickers that look more like carbon fiber than these handle scales. Ironically though, it actually is real carbon fiber xD.
Great news, and great review. One thing that I was hoping you would do was a weight comparison between the carbon D2 and plastic Aus8. Weight would be the only mildly compelling reason to get the carbon. If it's not too much trouble for you, do you think you could bust out the scales for me? Love your work, especially your focus on the value end of the spectrum.
I got one in carbon and one in coyote brown plastic. I do prefer "using" the plastic, but the carbon looks better, IMHO so I carry it when I don't expect to use it too hard. Maybe I'm just a sucker for any carbon fiber whatsoever.
Aus8 is also much more responsive to a strop then D2. So u might actually need to go to stones a little more then aus8. Unless your really hard on the edge and chip it or roll it.
Long time coming, and Ontario has kind of thrown the gauntlet down by not raising the price. I'd like to add that disassembling a Rat 2 - reveals an impressive build quality, especially in a $32 knife.
I took apart my aus-8 rat 1 to clean it and was astonished by the build quality, ignoring of course the fact that the scales are crappy plastic instead of the preferable g10. everything is dirt simple and solid, and the full liners are perfect. if they make a D2 RAT 2 with black G10 scales I'd pay 50 bucks for it
Yes not the best cf, but for the price you shouldn't expect zt quality cf. I also think it makes the knife feel more substantial. Where as the frn on the cutjack feels cheap.
